Bowling pin rake



Dec. 26, 1961 B. T. CARROW BOWLING PIN RAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.

Ini/rzfor". fiurrzeli TCarrow.

Dec. 26, 1961 B. T. cARRow BOWLING PIN RAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1958 I n i/rzforf jurnefi TCarrow:

This invention relates to an accessory for use in connection with automatic pin spotting machines.

In recent years the use of automatic pin spotting machines has become widespread. However, the automatic machine is not adaptable for handling pins when they get caught under the sweep-arm; cannot respot pins accidentally knocked down; cannot be used to retrieve pins from in front of the ball doors; and cannot be used on broken pins. Accordingly, it has heretofore been necessary for an operator or mechanic to reach into and under the automatic apparatus in order to perform these functions. Such manual handling and retrieving of pins is dangerous, and it has been the practice to rerun the pin spotter through its entire cycle when changing pins, retrieving strays, etc.

Because of these difiiculties, it is an important object of my invention to provide a means for performing these functions without the necessity of either endangering the operators arms and hands, or requiring that the pin spotter be recycled which is a time-consuming operation. A further object of my invention is to provide an accessory for use with automatic pin spotters which will, in general, increase the usefulness and efiiciency of such machines. An additional object of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus which is adapted for retrieving, changing, and manipulating individual bowling pins without interrupting the normal cycle of the pin spotting inaohine. Another object or" the invention is to provide an implement which may be manually manipulated to lift 3,014,749 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 comprises an 0.5 inch thin-wall conduit. The U-shaped open double hook 11 may be fixed as by Weld 12 to one end of the rod 10 and comprises a pair of spaced prongs or fingers 13 and 13a joined by the transverse base 13b. The entire hook 11 may be unitary and formed from round steel stock from about 0.25 to about 0.375 inch rods. The prongs 13 and 13a are spaced about 2 inches apart and are parallel along major portions of their length but are turned inwardly toward each other at their free ends. Each of the free ends of the hook 11 may be provided with resilient caps 11a formed, for example, of short lengths of rubber tubing.

The regulation bowling pin has a throat which is about 1.625 inches in diameter with a head that is 2.5 inches at its broadest point and a body the maximum width of which is about 4.75 inches.

being about 5 inches from the narrowest portion of the throat. These specifications therefore establish-the dimensions of the pin-grasping hook 11.

A first portion 27 of the parallel prongs 13 and 13a extends about 2.5 inches from the base 13b fixed to the end of the rod or'staif 10 and in substantially the plane of but preferably forming a small angle to the axis of the rod 10. The second portion 25 of the prongs I3 and 13a are bent upwardly at a small angle of about 10 to 20 from the plane of the longitudinal axis of the rod 10 and extend about 1.75 inches. The tenninal ends 26 of the prongs I3 and 13a are bent toward the base 1% at about right angles to the second portion 25 or in a plane in clined at an angle of between 100 and 120 to the plane or drag bowling pins from any position and from either end. It is also an object of the invention to provide a bowling pin rake which is of rugged construction and of simple operation. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds.

Briefly, according to my invention I provide an apparatus which comprises an elongated rod having a doubleprouged fork at one end and a spatula or spoon-shaped manipulator at the other. The donble-pronged fork is essentially U-shaped with parallel prongs which are nonlinear or angular and which together form an open double hook. This U-shaped open hook can be slipped about the narrow throat of a bowling pin but cannot be passed axially oi the pin, the free ends of the hook being spaced to engage the head or the body of the pin.

Further details of the construction and mode of using my device will be described by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the device;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the manipulation of the device to retrieve a pin from beneath a sweep-arm of an automatic pin spotter;

FIGURE 4 illustrates the respotting of a pin accidentally knocked down;

FIGURE 5 shows the device being used to lift a pin by its head from within the curtain or pit area;

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate the lifting of the pin by means of its head after it has fallen;

FIGURE 8 shows changing pins in the machine without cycling the machine; and

FIGURE 9 illustrates the use of the spoon end of the rake for maneuvering the bowling balls within an automatic lift.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, the rod 10 typically of the first portions. Gripping caps or sleeves 11a are provided on the terminal ends 26 and contact the pin 20.

The terminal end of the rod 10 is shaped as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 to provide an elongated spoon-like or spatula-shaped manipulator covered with a resilient material, such as rubber, to provide a hand grip 16 and to provide a means for manipulating the bowling balls 23 as shown in FIGURE 9.

The operation of the hook 11 is shown in the series of views 3 to 8 inclusive. For example, in FIGURE 3 the prongs 13 and 13a of the book 11 have been passed about the throat 28a of the pin 20 whereby the hook 11 is astride the pin 20 and the caps 11a on the terminal ends 26 engage its enlarged base 20b. In FIGURE 4 the prongs 13 and 13a of the hook 11 encircle the throat 29a and upon lifting the hook 11 the caps 11a engage the head 20c. In FIGURE 5 the hook 11 is astride the throat portion 20a of the pin 2% and the upturned ends 26 with the caps 11a engaging the underside of the head 200. In FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, the rod 10 is held substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. of the pin 24) with the hook 11 over the head 20a. The ends 26 on the prongs 13 and 13a are turned inwardly beneath the pin 20, and the weight of the body 20b of the' pin 20'causes the pin to pivot so as to bring the head 20c upwardly into contact with the portions 27 on the book 11. To'assurne this position the hook 11 may be initially placed astride the throat Ziia, as shown in FIGURE 8, and when moved downwardly into the position shown in FIGURE 7 the pin may be lifted as shown in FIGURE 6.

By rotating the rod 10 about its axis from the position shown in FIGURE 6 and simultaneously lifting the hook 11, the pin 24 can be placed in the spotting position of FIGURE 4. Similarly by rotating the rod 10 from its vertical position of FIGURE 5 with the hook 11 astride the pin 20 it also can be placed in the spotting position illustrated by FIGURE 4. Other manipulations will be evident to the operator as he becomes familiar with the apparatus.

' In some forms of automatic pin spotters there is a belt lift 22 (FIGURE 9) which is provided to carry the The over-all length of the pin is about 15 inches, the maximum width of the body 3 bowling balls upwardly from the pit into the ball return channel. It sometimes occurs, howeven tha-t the lift is overloaded when too many bails enter it at one time. When this happens, the terminal end 16 carried by one end of the rod 16 may be used to lift the ball 23 as shown in FlGURE 9. I

Although my invention has been described in connection with its use on bowling alleys provided with automatic pin spotter machines, it should be understood that the device can also be used on manually spotted alleys.

However, the greatest utility is with the automatic machine because of the hazards involved in working in and around such automatic machines. I

It will also be recognized that my device can be used on other articles than bowling pins. In general, such articles are characterized by having a constricted neck portion and an enlarged body or head. Thus, odd shaped articles such as bottles, cmtons, etc. may be manipulated by the hook 11 in much the same manner as described above in connection with the bowling pin.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending now abandoned application Serial No. 438,374, filed June 22, 1954 and entitled Bowling Pin Handling Device.

The invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment which is set forth in considerable detail. However, this is by way of illustration only and it should be understood that my invention is not limited thereto since other modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the described invention.

What I claim is:

1. A bowling pin handling apparatus for use in pin setting which comprises an elongated staff means, a bifurcated hook at one end of said stafi means, said hook consisting of a generally U-shaped member having similar angular fingers, corresponding portions of said fingers being parallel and said portions lying in essentially three different planes, a first portion of said non-linear fingers lying in a first plane oblique to the am's of the elongated stafi means, an intermediate portion of said fingers lying in a plane disposed at an angle of between about and to the said first plane, and an outer portion of said fingers lying in a plane at an angle of about 100 to 120 to the said first plane, resilient caps on said outer portions, said apparatus being adapted to be used as a rake and as a fork for manipulating and lifting bowling pins.

'2. The apparatus of claim .1 wherein the second end of the elongated stafi means remote from said hook comprises a spoon-like means, hand grip means covering said spoon like means, and wherein said non-linear fingers are provided with. resilient gripping sleeves.

3. An apparatus for handling symmetrically shaped articles having curved surfaces and a. constricted portion intermediate the ends thereof which comprises an elongated stafi means, a bifurcated hook at one end of said staff means, and a spoon-like means at the other end of said sta'fi means, said hook consisting essentially of two spaced prongs each prong comprising three non linear segments, the first of said segments lying in a plane forming a small angle with the axis of the staff means, the second of said segments lying in a plane intersecting the first plane at an angle of between 10 and 20, and the third of said segments lying in a plane which intersects the first plane at an angle of between about and 4. A bowling pin handling apparatus comprising an elongated hollow shaft, a forked hook means at one end of said shaft, said hook means comprising a U-shaped member of round stock rigidly fixed to said shaft and providing a rigid pair of substantially parallel, non-linear rprongs adapted to receive the bowling pin at its narrow iroat portion and to engage the broader head and body portions thereof at the extremities of said forked hook, said non-linear prongs comprising a first pair of segments in the same plane and in a first plane forming a small angle to the axis of said shaft, a second pair of segments lying in a plane intersecting the first plane at a small ange, and the third pair of segments comprising the terminal ends of said prongs and lying in a third plane which is substantially perpendicular to the second plane.

5. The bowling pin handling apparatus of claim 3, wherein the said third segments of said prongs are provided with resilient gripping caps consisting essentially of short lengths of rubber tubing thereon.

6. A bowling pin handling device comprisingan elongated staiif, a bifurcated hook means at one end of said staff, said hook means comprising a generally U-shaped member, the legs of which are a rigid pair of substantially non-linear prongs, said prongs comprising a first pair of parallel segments in a first plane substantially in the plane of the axis of said staff, a second pair of parallel segments lying in a plane intersecting the said first plane at a small angle, and a third pair of segments comprising non-parallel terminal ends of said prongs and lying in a third plane which is substantially perpendicular to the second plane, said prongs being spaced to receive the narrow throat of the bowling pin and to engage the head and body therebetween at remote portions of said hook means. i

7. The bowling pin handling apparatus of claim 4 wherein the said terminal ends are turned inward of each other.

8. The bowling pin handling apparatus of claim 6 wherein the said terminal ends are provided with resilient gripping caps.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 565,369 Son Aug. 4, 1896 592,897 White Nov. 2, 1897 776,591 Hower Dec. 6, 1904 1,223,791 Jackson Apr. 4, 1917 2,326,676 Peters Aug. 10, 194-3 2,616,741 Ziese Nov. 4, 1952 

